Michigan State's Kenny Goins, left, and Iowa's Luka Garza battle for control of the ball during the first half on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.(Photo: Nick King/Lansing State Journal)Buy Photo

1. Kenny Goins is quietly putting together a season worth noticing

EAST LANSING – Kenny Goins, for many Michigan State fans, represents the player who took Nick Ward’s minutes two years ago and, playing out of position, couldn’t stop bigger big men. And after that, was a frustratingly limited offensive player.

Time to reassess.

Goins entered Monday night averaging 10 rebounds per game this season, tied for third-most in the Big Ten and leading the Spartans by a ways. He left an even greater impression in a 90-68 win over Iowa, with a career-high 19 points, along with 14 rebounds, seven assists and two steals. You read that correctly. MSU was plus-25 points in the 30 minutes he was on the court. No player was better. Goins has become among MSU’s most important pieces.

He and Xavier Tillman were essential in turning this game in MSU’s favor — when it was still a game — in large part by limiting Iowa’s bear of a forward Tyler Cook to nine points on 4-of-10 shooting (before garbage time).

Next time MSU plays, spend some time just watching Goins — on defense, on the glass, with the ball and moving without it. It’s a clinic in how a kid who once was a preferred walk-on becomes a consequential starter on an upper-tier Big Ten basketball team.

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Michigan State's Cassius Winston, left, and Iowa's Ryan Kriener go after the ball during the second half on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Michigan State beat Iowa 90-68. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State's Nick Ward, center, blocks a shot by Iowa's Luka Garza during the second half on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Michigan State beat Iowa 90-68. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo, left, talks with Aaron Henry during the second half on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Michigan State beat Iowa 90-68. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State's Joshua Langford, left, gets tangled up with Iowa's Luka Garza during the second half on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Michigan State beat Iowa 90-68. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State's fans distract Iowa while at the free throw line during the second half on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Michigan State beat Iowa 90-68. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State's Nick Ward dunks as Iowa's Isaiah Moss looks on during the second half on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Michigan State beat Iowa 90-68. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State's Joshua Langford, left, hugs head coach Tom Izzo after coming off the court during the second half on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Michigan State beat Iowa 90-68. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State's Aaron Henry makes a basket and draws an Iowa foul during the second half on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Michigan State beat Iowa 90-68. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State's head coach Tom Izzo, right, talks with Nick Ward on the bench during the second half on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Michigan State beat Iowa 90-68. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

The Michigan State bench celebrates after a score late during the second half on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Michigan State beat Iowa 90-68. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State fans cheer during player introductions before the Spartans game against Iowa on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Michigan State beat Iowa 90-68. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State's Kenny Goins, left, and Iowa's Luka Garza battle for control of the ball during the first half on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State's Cassius Winston, left, celebrates with teammate Foster Loyer after making a 3-poiner during the first half on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

2. Freshman thoughts: Iowa edition

Aaron Henry had both a difficult and impactful evening Monday. He struggled with assignments on both ends and was beaten to the bucket by a guard he ought to be able to keep in front of him. He also had a fast-break dunk during which he exploded at the rim just ahead of the defense to give MSU a 28-25 lead as the Spartans were trying to take control. It’s a play that doesn’t look the same from any other player on MSU’s roster. It was his only bucket in the first half, his only stat until the game was long put away. But not inconsequential. His contributions are sometimes going to be minimal but significant this season.

Foster Loyer, in MSU’s throwback script “State” jerseys and shorts, resembles Scott Skiles. Not Skiles’ college game or demeanor — a long ways from it right now — but in his duck-footed stride and his movement as he dribbles. Heck, Jud Heathcote told Skiles he was too slow and too small but was going to offer him a scholarship anyway. Look how that turned out. Skiles wouldn’t be a bad career for Loyer to try to emulate.

Loyer played two first-half minutes Thursday, and didn’t register another stat while the game was in doubt. He played another couple minutes midway through the second half after Winston landed awkwardly. That’s four real minutes in total. Skiles averaged 12.4 points in 34 minutes a game as a freshman in 1982-83. So Loyer’s behind a bit. But Loyer is on a better team, behind a proven backcourt (instead of alongside Sam Vincent) and playing for a coach who doesn’t stray from man-to-man defense. I’m not sure Tom Izzo would have appreciated Skiles’ man defense, either.

Gabe Brown and Thomas Kithier each played the final couple minutes of the first half. Neither is in the regular rotation. Big Ten games are telling of that. Playing them was an effort to get both involved, which Izzo has done regularly early this season. It was not a game for Marcus Bingham Jr. Iowa’s bigs are thick and Tyler Cook is not a matchup fit for Bingham right now. Bingham didn’t play until the game was well in hand in the second half.

3. MSU played well, but Iowa's response was pitiful

Michigan State played a game worthy of a 90-68 pummeling. So did Iowa.

The Spartans tallied 28 assists on 31 buckets, they turned the ball over just eight times (four until the deep bench got in). They dominated in the paint with Nick Ward (26 points, nine rebounds), controlled the pace with Cassius Winston (12 assists and one turnover) and shut down Hawkeyes’ star Tyler Cook with seasoned defensive efforts from Kenny Goins and Xavier Tillman.

When the Spartans seized control, that was it. In part because of a pitiful response from Iowa, which is beginning to look again like the team that teases its fans, doesn’t play a lick of defense and winds up in the NIT.

This was a good win for MSU because it was a Big Ten win against a reputable program. But MSU got more out of the Rutgers game, the Louisville loss and the win over Texas. I thought Iowa was beyond this sort of night. Apparently not.